Sewing-machine attachment for spiral stitching



July 24, 1923;

A. M. ENGLISH SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR SPIRAL STII'OHING Fil ed Feb. 26 '1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jam fi o r ney.

Wain ess: ad/ 6 July 24, 1923. 1 1,463,116

A. M. ENGLISH SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR SPIRAL STITCHING Filed Feb. 26 1921 3 sheets-Shan 3 26 6 1; w ,2 w w 6 w C /0 O 6 4 2/ n 5 I V /6 6 /0 & Q 1 C7 6 9 3 11 H I y 'Fzye.

Inventor.-

'wzzn6$$ Q 51/1. 5M.

@m/Lflvz v v y A. M. ENGLISH SEWING MACHINE ATTACHMENT on SPIRAL sTITcHING Filed Feb. 26 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 In venior:

Witness.- @Ma/L W noted.

Patented July 24 1923.

ANALDO M. ENGLISH, OF BROOKLINE,

stares r meant MASSACHUSETTS, assronon 'ro' CUMMINGS CHUSETTS.

SEWING-IIIACHINE ATTACHMENT FOR SPIRAT, STITGHIN'G.

Application filed February 26, 1921.

To all whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, ANALDO M. ENGLISH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brookline, in the county of Norfolk, State of lvlassachusetts, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Sewing- Machine Attachments for Spiral Stitching, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention provides means of novel and improved character and construction adapted especi-ally'for use in stitching spirally, as for instance in connection with the brims of middy caps, after the cloth composing the same has been made up into the shape of slightly flaring endless bands.

The said means consists in devices comprising a cloth-guide and means actuated through the reciprocating movement of the sewing machine needle-bar to give a pro gressive lateral movement to the guide to cause the stitches made by the machine to form a spiral course. It consists, further, in means of novel construction for actuating a cloth-guide to cause lateral traverse thereof for the purpose It consists, further, in a laterallytraversing edge-guide having means as specified hereinafter acting automatically to keep one edge of the cloth in proper contact with the edge-guide.

The drawings show an illustrative embodiment of the general invention and the features just referred to, in the shape of an attachment designed for removable and adjustable application to a sewing machine.

Fig. 1 of the drawings is a perspective view of a sewing machine having the said embodiment applied thereto.

Fig. 2, Sheet 2, is a front elevation of the said machine and embodiment.

Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a plan view of the attachment, showing the needle-bar in horizontal section On line 3, 3, of Fig. 2-.

Fig. 4, Sheet 1, is a view on a relatively enlarged scale showing certain parts at the left of line 4, 4, of each of Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is an end elevation of the machine and attachment.

Figs. 6,. 7, 8, and 9, Sheet 3, are views on relatively enlarged scale, Fig. 6 being a partly sectional plan view of a portion of the'guide-traversing means; Fig. 7 being said cloth- Serial no. 447,912."

a view mainly in vertical section in the plane of line a view mainly in vertical section in the plane of line 8,8, in Fig; 7; and Fig. 9 being a detail view partly in vertical section on line 9, 9, of Fig. 7 3 Referring to the drawings, I i The cloth-guide l of the illustratedembodiment of the invention is an edge-guide for the endless band made up for the brim of a middy-cap; 1 is its cloth-guiding surface. The said edge-guide is located at the 7, 7, in Fig. 8; Fig. 8 being right of the needle-bar 2 and needle 3 (Fig. i

5), in the required working relation to the needle-bar and needle. In this instance it is connected by a pivot 1 (Figs. 3 and 4) with an arm 5 extending rearwardly from a rod or spindle 6 located the machine and extending toward the right and there connecting with the traverse mechanism. The traverse mechanism operate's to move rod or wise, and thereby the edge-guide is traversed sidewise relative to the needle. The rod or spindle 6 is capable of turning around its longitudinal axis so as to permit the arm 5 and edge-guide to swing down toward the workplate, or to "be moved upwardly therefrom, and the pivotal'connection of the edge-guide with the arm 5 at 1 enables the edge-guide to adjust itself to the surface of the work-plate. This is a preferred mode of combining the edgeguide with its Operating" connections, but in some cases the edge-guide may otherwise be mounted or combined with the rod or, spindle. The edge-guide may rest by gravity upon the surface of the work-plate, but preferably a spring isemployed to keep it down in place. In the presentinstance a bent flat spring 5 attached toarm 5 contacts with the under side of an abutment finger l2 projecting from frame a: of the attachment, and its tension bears arm 5 and the edge-guide downward. As the edgeguide is traversed laterally the spring slides along the finger 12, remaining in engagement therewith.

" The means which the cloth, in being advanced to the needle, isdiverted or deflected laterally toward the guiding surface'of .the

edge-guide 1, so as to ensure that the edgev of the cloth shall be in contact with such surface, is in this instance a roll 8 that is at the frontof spindle; 6 lengthemployed as a presser. The cloth is passed between the roll 8 and the surface of the work-plate. The said roll has its longitudinal axis at an angle to the said surface, whereby the tendency to divert or deflect the cloth laterally is secured. circumferentially grooved and ribbed construction, for "more effective engagement with the cloth and greater effect in controlling the latter. The grooving, etc, is spiral in the present instance, but may be annular. Other forms or constructions of laterallydiverting or deflecting means may be combined with the edge-guide in some instances. A pin 81 extending horizontally outward from the edge-guide at the rear of the needlebar and needle is adapted to hold the cloth from rising as it moves rearward through the machine.

I In order that the roll 8 shall participate the traversing movements of the edgeguide 1, and continue in the same working relations therewith, the roll is connected with the edge-guide, through being carried by the forward end of the edge-guide. For the purpose of enabling it to act as a presser it is mounted with capacity for vertical movement. In this instance the roll is fitted upon a stud or pin 9 that is disposed at the angle aforesaid with respect to the cloth-guiding surface of the edge-guide, and that projects inwardly toward the edge-guide from an arm 10 of a swing-frame having its hub or sleevev 10- fitted upon a stud or pin 10 carried by the forward portion of the edgeguide. This supporting pin or stud 10 is arranged at the same inclination with respect to the clotl1guiding surface of the edge-guide as the axis of the roll, the two studs or pins being parallel with each other.

Gravity alone may be depended upon to cause the roll to bear upon the top surface ofthe cloth, but preferably I combinewith theswing-frame'a suitable spring to act to ensurethe proper amount of pressure. In this instance a fiexure spring 11 is afiixed by one end to the arm 10 of the swing-frame and arranged to engage by its other end with the fixed abutment finger 12, projecting as aforesaid from the attachmentframe m so that the reaction of the spring from the said abutment finger bears the swing-frame and roll downward toward the work-plate.

The means for traversing the edge-guide includes a traverse-screw 16 which is hollow and-surrounds a portion of the length of the rod or spindle 6 between two guides 6, 6", in connection with attachment-frame w, in which the rod or spindle is mounted. The

two guides prevent endwise movement of the screw. For communicating endwise movement to rod or spindle 6 from the traverse-screw a block or collar 6 fixed upon the outer endof the rod or spindle has at- As shown, it is of.

art? tached thereto a flat spring-strip 6 carrying a nut-segment 1'17 which engages the threaded portion of thescrew, so that in consequence of the turning of the screw the rod I or spindle is advanced lengthwise through the guides 6, 6 and the interior of the screw and thereby the edge-guide is traversed. A knob or handle 6 is provided upon the spring-stripe for convenience in disengaging the nut-segment from the screw and shifting the edge-guide by hand, either in placing the edge-guide in starting position or for purposes of adjustment. An unthreaded space 6 of reduced diameter is left at the outer endof the body of the traverse screw to avoid injury such as would result from continuing the traversing movement too far. Such clear space safeguards against the nut-segment being forced'against the guide 6 In this embodiment of the invention, for the actuation of the traverse means through the reciprocating movements of the needlebar, an arm 13 is employed. The said arm is engaged by one end thereof with a projection let (Figs. 3 and 4;) from a block 15 carriedby the needle-bar and made fast thereon by a clamping screw 15, this arm being mounted upon the attachment frame 50 by means of a pivotal stud 13 projecting from the stud and fitted in a bearing w upon the attachment-frame, so that the arm is swung up and down vertically as the needle-bar and needlerise and fall. This vertically-swinging movement of the arm is utilized to impart a gradual turning movement to the traverse-screw 16. I

The means through which the swinging arm 13 transmits movements to the screw 16, to turn the latter, is an intermittent clutch arrangement comprising, in the case of this embodiment, a link 18, (shown separately in Fig. 9 Sheet 3,) a swinging carrier 19, clutch-dogs 20, 20 (Figs'7 and 8,) and adisk 21 attached to the said screw. The swinging carrier 19, as illustrated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8, is slotted arm embracing the disk and hung by half-bearings at one end thereof upon plain unthr'eaded portions of the closed endof the slot in theswinging carrier; Normally the balls are held down with yielding force by means of presserbars 20, 20, that rest by their lower ends upon the tops of the balls, theupper portions of the said presser bars being encircled by expanding spiral springs 20?; 20, that confined between shoulders on the presser-bars and the, top of an arch-shaped piece 21* rising from the carrier. The upper ends of the presser-bars eXtendupward through holes in said arch-shaped piece. The link 18 has upper and lower slots or recesses in which blocks 22, 28, are mounted by means of transverse pivots 22, 23*. A stud l3 projecting from one side of swinging arm 13 enters a hole in the upper block 22, and a stud l9 projecting from the outer end of the carrier enters a hole in the lower block In consequence of the connection between the arm 13 and the carrier established by means of the link, the swinging movements of the arm produce swinging of the carrier. The blocks 22, 23, swing upon their respective pivotal connections 22, 23 with the body of the link, so as thereby to compensate for the fact that the arm 13 and the carrier 19 swing around axes that are disposed at right angles with each other. As the carrier swings'upward, the action of the converging wall or" the ball-containing chamber upon the ballspresses the latter inward against the opposite sides of the disk,

so as to cause them to grip the disk and cause the latter and the screw 16 to turn during the continued upward movement of the carrier. In the downward movement of the carrier the upward flare of the said wall causes the binding action of the ballsupoyn the disk to be relieved, and hence the carrier returns downward without turning the disk and screw backward. -Backward turning is provided against, in addition, by means of a frictionalholding device or clamp carried by attachment-frame a: and comprising opposite yielding arms 2 1-, 24, having contactportions 24, 24 6) which bear against opposite surfaces of the disk. Said arms are pressed with yielding force toward each other by means of an expanding spiral spring 25 (Fig. 6) confined under the cupshaped head of a nut 26 fitted to a screwthreaded stud 27 projecting from one arm through a hole in the other, said spring taking bearing against the outer side of the latter arm. The sleeve-like central body of the said nut also occupies the said hole in the second arm. Adjustment of the nut upon the stud regulates the tension of the spring and the frictional effect of the clamp.

The rate at which the edge-guide is traversed sidewise is; varied by regulating the extent of the return movement of the balls in the downward stroke of the carrier. This is accomplished by endwise adjustment of a pin 28 having the upper portionthereof' slotted or forked and arranged so as to em brace the disk adjacent the balls, below the latter. The return stroke of the carrier carries the balls into contact with the ends of the limbs or branches of the pin, so that said ends stop the balls in, their return movement, and thus the position of the ends determines the position from which the balls start in reengaging with the disk and actattachment is detachably' and" The endwise ad ing to rotate -the same.

28, s provided for in justnient of the pin" this instance means of an adjustment screw 29 having'a tapering or cone-shaped portion 29 that acts against the lower end. of pin 28.. By turning the adjustment-screw 29 within the screw threaded hole in attachment-frame mwhich it OCCUPlGS, the, adj ust= ment-screwis advanced or retracted, as the case may be, to effect the shift of pin 28 that is necessary for the required regulation of the rate at which the traverse-screw is r0 tated i Theattachment-framea bored to fit upon the post 1/ rising from the attachmentstand 51/ which is mounted upon the base-plate B of the sewing machine and made fast to the latter by means of a clamping screw 1 and washer Thestem of the clamping screw occupiesa slot-y (Fig.1)- in the base-plate, such slot-providing for transverse adjust-- ment of the attachment with reference to the partsof the sewing machine. Thereby the adjustably secured in place in a sewing machine. The

attachment frame a" is adjustable vertically upon post y, and is secured byme ans of a clamping 'screww at the proper height to .suit that of the upper surfaceof' the workplate, and the adjacent parts of the ma chine. By constructing"the organization as an attachment it is made applicable to and removablefrom an ordinary sewing machine at will. So also 'in case ganization should get out oforder, the organization as a whole may be removed bodily from the sewing machine with which it has been combined, and replaced by another like organization, so that the use of the machine may continue without any material interruption. v

In the case of the illustrated embodiment of the invention the construction of the sewing machine isnot affected, and'the addition thereto of worms or screws, special gearing, etc., for the actuation of the traverse mechanism is avoided, All thatis required is to apply the attachment to the machine, adjust its parts in proper working relation with the machine proper, apply'the block 15 to the needle-bar and fasten it in place, by means of its clamping screw 15?, and engagearm 13 of the attachment with projection-l4 of the block.

The disk 21 of the intermittent-clutch devices is made thin and light, so that there is practically no liability to overrunnin'g of the same and the traverse screw. Theemployment of two clutch-balls located at opposite sides of the disk secures a well-balanced action, free from tendency to cramping.

What is claimed as the invention is,

1. A sewing machine attachment for spiral stitching comprising a cloth-guide and means adapted to be'actua'ted through any-part of the ori the reciprocating movement of a sewing Ina-- chine needle-bar to give a progressive'lateral movement to the said cloth-guide to cause transversely to produce a spiral course'of stitches. p I 8 The comb nation comprising an edgeguide, a presser-roll connected therewith constructed and arranged to act upon the upper surface or" the cloth-to deflect the cloth toward the edge-guide so as tokeep its edge in oontact with the-"said'guid'e, and. means for progressively traverslng the edge-guide and pressenroll transversely;

4c. The combination comprising an edgeguide, a circumferentially grooved roll con ,nected therewith which deflects the cloth toward the edge-guide andtends to keepits edgesin contact with the guide, and means and roll transversely, I v

5. The combination comprising an edgeguide, a pi-essernoll, a vertically-movable carrier therefor connected with said edgefor pro ressively traversing the edge-guide 30 1 guide, and means for progressively traversing said parts in unison transversely.

6. The combination comprising an edge guide, a vertically-movable carrier connect,-

ed therewith, a presser-and-deflector roll,

mounted insaid carrier operating to deflect the cloth laterally against the edge-guide, and means'r'or progressively traversing said edge-guide transversely. o

,7. The combination comprising an edge guide,'a vertically-movable carrier connected therewith, a presser-and-deflector roll mounted in said carrier with its axis of revolution inclined with respect to said edge guide, to deflect the cloth laterally against the latter, and means for progressively traversing said edge-guide transversely.

8. The combination comp-rising an edgeguide a vertically-movable carrier connected therewith, a circumferentially grooved presser-and-defiector roll mounted in said carrier with its axis of revolution inclined with respect tovsaid edge-guide, to deflect thecloth'laterally against the latter, and means for progressively traversing said edge-guide transversely.

9. Devices for spiral stitching compris mg a cloth-guide, means for progressively traversing said cloth-guide transversely, and operating. devices for such means, adapted to be intermittingly actuated through the movement of a sewing-machine needle bar.

, '10. Devices for spiral stitching comprising a cloth-guide, means for progressively traversing said cloth-guide transversely, and intermittentclutch operating devices for such means, adapted to be actuated through the movement of a sewing-machine.

screw adaptedto be actuated through the. movement of a sewing machine needle-bar.

, 12. Devices for spiral stitching comprising a cloth guide, traverse-means operative ly combined therewith, a disk in connection with saidtraverse-means, clutch-dogs op posing each other at opposite sides of the said disk, and means for reciprocating said dogs, adapted to be actuated from apart eta sewing machine.

13. Devices for spir ing a cloth-guide, traverse-means operativel'y combined therewith, a disk in connection with said traversemeans, clutch-dogs opposing .each other at opposite sides or the said disk, and meansv for reciprocating said dogs, adapted to be actuated -,through the movement of asewing machine needle-bar.

Devices for spiral stitching comprisa clotlvguide, traverse-means operatively combined therewith, a disk in connection with said traverse-means, dogs opposing each otheriat opposite sides of the'said disk, a dog-carrier having; a chamber with converging wall, and means for, actuating said dog-carrier from a' moving part of'asewingmachine.

15. Devices for spiral stitching'comprising a cloth-guide, traverse-means operatively combined therewith, a disk in connection with'said traverse-means, dogs opposing each other at'opposite sides of said disk, a dogcarrier having a dog-containing chamber withconverging wall, means for actuating said dog-carrier from a moving part of a sewing machine, and means for limiting the return stroke ofthe dogs, adjustable to vary.

the speedo-f lateraltraver'se of theclothguide. I

16. Devices for spiral stitching comprising-a clotlrguide, traverse-means operatively combined therewith, a disk in connection with the said traverse-means, dogs opposing each other at opposite sides of said disk, a dog-carrier having a dog-containing chamber. with converging wall,' means for actuating said dog-carrier from a moving part of a sewing machine, adivided stop working at opposite sides of said disk for limiting the return stroke of the dogs and fixing the starting point thereof, and means for adjusting the said stop to vary the action in turning the said disk and the rate of traverse. Y c

dog-contalning a1 stitching compristoo 17. Devices for spiral stitching comprising a cloth-guide, a rod or spindle extending therefrom, a hollow traverse-screw through which said rod or spindle extends constituting a guide for the rod or spindle, and adapted to be actuated from the mechanism of a sewing machine, and a nut-member through which the traverse-screw imparts movement to the rod or spindle and clothguide. v

18. Devices for spiral stitching comprisin a hollow traverse-screw adapted to be actuated from the mechanism of a sewing machine, a rod or spindle actuated by said hollow screw, extending axially therethrough, and having an arm extending at an angle from it adjacent the stitch-making point in a sewing machine, and an edge guide pivotally hung to said arm and adapted to conform to the surface of the sewing machine work-plate 19. Devices for spiral stitching comprising an edge-guide, a presser connected therewith which bears upon the upper surface of the cloth and byengagement with such surface operates to. deflect the cloth toward the edge-guide so, as tokeep the edge of the cloth in contact withsaid guide, and

means for traversing the edge-guide and said deflecting means transversely to produce a spiral course of stitches.

In testimony whereof Iaiiixmy signature in presence of two witnesses.

v ANALDO MQENGLIsH.

Witnesses:

CHAs. F. RANDALL, ELLEN 0. SPRING. 

